Obligatory Charity Tax After Ramadaan (Zakat ul Fitr)

Allah's Apostle enjoined the payment of one Sa' of dates or one Sa' of barley as
Zakat-ul-Fitr on every Muslim slave or free, male or female, young or old, and he ordered
that it be paid before the people went out to offer the 'Id prayer. (One Sa' = 3 Kilograms
approx.)

In the life-time of the Prophet we used to give one Sa' of food or one Sa' of dates or
one Sa' of barley or one Sa' of Raisins (dried grapes) as Sadaqat-ul-Fitr. And when
Muawiya became the Caliph and the wheat was (available in abundance) he said, "I
think (observe) that one Mudd (of wheat) equals two Mudds (of any of the above mentioned
things).

In the life-time of Allah's Apostle , we used to give one Sa' of food (edible things)
as Sadaqat-ul-Fit,r (to the poor). Our food used to be either of barley, raisins (dried
grapes), cottage cheese or dates.

Ibn 'Umar said, "The Prophet made incumbent on every male or female, free man or
slave, the payment of one Sa' of dates or barley as Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (or said
Sadaqa-Ramadan)." The people then substituted half Sa' of wheat for that. Ibn 'Umar
used to give dates (as Sadaqat-ulFitr). Once there was scarcity of dates in Medina and Ibn
'Umar gave barley. 'And Ibn 'Umar used to give Sadaqat-ul-Fitr for every young and old
person. He even used to give on behalf of my children. Ibn 'Umar used to give
Sadaqatul-Fitr to those who had been officially appointed for its collection. People used
to give Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (even) a day or two before the 'Id.

Allah's Apostle has made Sadaqatul-Fitr obligatory, (and it was), either one Sa' of
barley or one Sa' of dates (and its payment was obligatory) on young and old people, and
on free men as well as on slaves.